PRISA, being a founding member of
the Global Alliance in 2002, has played an active part in both the
Stockholm Accords and the Melbourne Mandate and will now embark as a
local pioneer to lead the first global GAP (Generally Accepted
Practices) study in South Africa and Africa together with a community of
expert practitioners and key role players at the University of
Pretoria.

PRISA Fellow, Western Cape
deputy chair and former President, Merle O’Brien made the SABC Board
shortlist of 37 South Africans out of a total 147 nominations from all
walks of life around the country. Merle was nominated by Aloysious Gowne
CPRP in his capacity as the Western Cape regional chairman.

Great news for Gauteng members!

Join the PR coffee revolution and kick
start your day with the PRISA Coffee Hour ! PRISA’s Gauteng Regional
Committee will host a Coffee Hour once a month from 08h00 to 09h00 at
various locations in Pretoria and Johannesburg, alternating monthly
between the two cities. The events are open to all PRISA members and
public relations students.

Suggestion box!

Your feedback will help us determine how to better serve you.
Please take a minute and give us your comments.

We would like to hear
from you, our members, and therefore have created PRISA’S first
suggestion box! If you would like to make a difference, click here. This month we ask you to provide us with workshop topics you would like to attend.

PRISA’s CPD department is hosting the following workshops in Johannesburg this month.

Internal communication management: September 12 – 13

The basic theory of internal communication

The importance of internal communication in creating employee commitment

The design of an internal communication strategy

Implementing and measuring the internal communication strategy

Creative writing: September 18 - 20

This
highly entertaining and intensive workshop is all about writing
excellent English texts for the media and adding an injection of
creativity. Prepare imaginative content that people will want to read,
remember and respond to, thereby achieving your organisational
objectives.

Creative writing: October 7 – 8

This
workshop will provide a theoretical grounding on speech and script
writing. It will also give tips on how to incorporate different
techniques for different target audiences. This vibrant workshop will
explain the use of story-telling and anecdotes in creating engaging
scripts for various purposes. For example, corporate videos and radio
adverts. Join your fellow professionals and become adept at the art of
writing good scripts and memorable speeches at this intensive two day
workshop.

To book for any of the above mentioned CPD workshops contact Ivonne Blom at cpd@prisa.co.za

September 18 - 20To view a list of all our programmes for the rest of 2013

In an interview with PRISA in February
2013, Mixael shared some of his thoughts and views on PRISA and the
public relations profession.

PRISA and Mixael's association
goes back 33 years when he first joined and progressed to the point that
he became its president in 2006. He served for two years and introduced
many programmes aimed at growing and strengthening the institute. One
of these was the improvement of professionalism and accreditation with
SAQA . “ As president, I gave my all to PRISA and worked 20 hours a day
for it”. This wasn’t done in any expectation for material gain or
acclaim but because he refuses to accept mediocrity. A fiercely
passionate member of PRISA, his almost encyclopedic knowledge of PRISA's
achievements reflect the pride he took in his work and is befitting of
an APR of his stature.

Widely respected in the industry,
Cynthia Schoeman from Ethics Monitor, presented PRCC members with an
interesting look at ethics and public relations in the workplace.
“Having the ability of knowing the difference between what is right or
wrong, and encompassing a good value system and ethical culture will
create honesty and improve investor and market confidence,” says Cynthia
Schoeman.

The breakfast addressed pertinent
issues including leadership and ethics, managing ethical boundaries and
whether ethics should be regarded as ‘bragging rights, a nice to have or
an optional extra. Cynthia emphasised the importance of values and
re-enforced the relevance which values has within an organisation
despite values having different meanings for different people.
“Organisations must strive to align people’s personal values with their
organisational values since values create commitment which purports
itself to sustainable long term relationship,” concludes Cynthia.

Attendees gained valuable insight
into understanding how to manage ethics in a business environment and
how to impart this knowledge to their clients.

This month Megan Govender shares with us how PRISA has contributed to her professional life.

Being in the public relations
profession in the water sector is incredibly varied and challenging. It
encompasses many different activities, involves a lot of hard work, long
hours and creative thinking. It’s not always glitz and glamour. However
being a member of PRISA is my ticket to achieving the best in the
public relations profession. PRISA keeps me well informed of the
constant changes, trends and training needs which is vital to
continuously excel in the profession.

I
am humbled to have received an individual award for best up-and-coming
public relations professional from PRISA'S PRISM AWARDS this year. This
accolade definitely opened doors to grow further and venture into the
management arena and with my affiliation with PRISA I will “walk the
walk“ and “talk the talk“ with confidence, determination and be a proud
member of PRISA.

Many years ago, when still starting
out, Sam Walton was at one of his stores when he overheard a customer
complaining to a cashier about a fishing rod he had recently purchased:
“I was really excited to take my boy fishing for the first time, but
then the rod broke! Our whole trip was ruined!” Without a word, Sam
walked over to the sporting goods section, picked out the same rod, and
presented it to the customer, offering his deepest apologies.

How do you keep employees
engaged in an economic climate where many people are losing their jobs
and those who keep their jobs face more stress and higher workloads?
This is a highly practical and impactful session delivered by
world-class professionals at the heart of ground-breaking work on
employee engagement.

This session, facilitated by
Michael Mead of Te Tari Taiwhenua, and a noteworthy panel comprising
Arthur Luis Floretin, People Management Association of the Philippines;
Jennifer Frahm, Conversations of Change and Russell Grossman from IABC,
will look at the advances made in the U.K., Australia, the Philippines,
and other countries over the last three years regarding the theory and
practice of employee engagement and its application for competitive
advantage and increased productivity for small, medium, and large
companies, including government agencies.

Social media for social change – Paull Young, Michael Sheldrich

Paull Young, charity: water and
Michael Sheldrick, Global Poverty Project, talk about driving non-profit
organisations' missions and messages through technology. Charity: water
was the first non-profit to have 1 million Twitter followers in 2010
and raised over $7 million through digital channels.

Sheldrick will talk about his
experience managing, “The End of Polio Campaign" and how he raised $100
million through integrated communications and grassroots engagement.
This session is facilitated by Tony Robertson, change.org.